Venetian blind and the like



July 12, 1966 F. GRIESSER 3,260,302

VENETIAN BLIND AND THE LIKE Filed May 22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 X In ygnfb A M ZM%M July 12, 1966 F. GRIESSER 3,260,302

VENETIAN BLIND AND THE LIKE Filed May 22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m/enfor F/ear/ch E r/ease United States Patent 3,260,302 VENETIAN BLIND AND THE LIKE Friedrich Griesser, Aadorf, Switzerland, assignor to Griesser A.G., Aadorf (Thurgau), Switzerland Filed May 22, 1964, Ser. No. 369,560

Claims priority, application Switzerland, May 24, 1963,

6,494/ 63 4 Claims. (Cl. 16017tl) The present invention has reference to an improved shutter and, more specifically, to improvements in shutters of the type provided with a plurality of individual slats which can be gathered together or stacked when the shutter is in raised condition, such shutters being generally designated in the art as Venetian-type blinds.

Generally speaking, the present invention concerns a shutter or Venetian blind of the aforementioned type provided with a lifting tape engaging with the lowermost slat and extending upwardly through openings provided at the slats, this lifting tape being windable upon a wind-up drum fixedly seated upon a driveable wind-up shaft. Furthermore, carrier members are provided which engage with the slats and are connected to swivel frame means seated with frictional contact upon the wind-up shaft through the agency of the wind-up drum, and wherein stop means are provided for arresting the swivel frame means in its terminal positions during further rotation of the wind-up shaft. The pivoting of the slats occurs by operating the wind-up shaft which by frictional contact is capable of entrainably rotating the swivel frame means between its terminal positions. When the wind-up shaft is not actuated the swivel frame means is arrested within the confines of its swivel zone solely by virtue of the aforementioned frictional contact and thus, with an appropriate pulling force exerted upon the carrier members can be displaced or shifted. This can lead to an unintentional shifting of the slats. Such is especially disadvantageous when the individual swivel frame means (generally two are provided) are not connected with one another and therefore can be brought into different swivel positions.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved roller shutter construction of the aforementioned type which overcomes such disadvantages.

A further important object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved roller shutter which is relatively simple in construction, highly reliable in operation, economical to manufacture, not readily subject to jamming or incorrect winding, and wherein the slats thereof are positively retained in selected position.

The aforementioned disadvantage is effectively overcome in accordance with the teachings of the present invention in that, a locking mechanism is provided between the wind-up shaft and the swivel frame means which upon actuation of the wind-up shaft in the one or other direction is released, whereas when the wind-up shaft is stationary the locking mechanism couples the wind-up shaft with the swivel frame means under the action of a torsional or turning force exerted upon the swivel frame means in one or the other sense of rotation, and thereby prevents swiveling or displacement of the aforesaid swivel frame means.

Advantageously, a spiral spring is employed as the locking mechanism and is wound about the hub portion of the wind-up drum. Both of the end portions of such spiral spring cooperate with a respective stop means at the swivel frame means and with a stationary stop means in such a manner that with actuation of the wind-up shaft the stationary stop means exerts a pressure against the one or other spring end tending to open the spring coils or windings to thereby release the locking mechanism,

Patented July 12, 1966 whereas when the wind-up shaft is stationary and in the presence of a turning force exerted upon the swivel frame means in one or the other sense of rotation the one or other stop means at the swivel frame means exerts a pressure or force against the one or other spring end which closes the spring windings or coils about the hub portion in order to positively couple the wind-up shaft with the swivel frame means in order to thereby arrest the latter.

The spring end portions which are advantageously radially flexed away from the hub portion can cooperate with stop means of the swivel frame means which consist of flaps or flanges of a side portion of the swivel frame means bent inwardly in the axial direction, whereas the stationary stop means is formed by a flange or flap bent in axial direction from a bearing secured in a housing.

Furthermore, between both of the stop noses or flaps of the swivel frame means a further flap can be bent out of the mentioned side portion of said swivel frame means which extends inwardly in axial direction over the spring coils for the purpose of preventing a too pronounced opening of the spring coils.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a portion of the bearing housing of a wind-up shaft of a Venetian blind of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the bearing housing depicted in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along lines III-III of FIGURE 2, depicting the swivel mount or frame means in one of its terminal positions;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URE 3, yet in this instance illustrating the swivel frame means in its central or middle position; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URE 3, but in this case depicting the swivel frame means in its other terminal position.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a bearing housing or casing of substantially U- shaped cross-sectional configuration for accommodating a take-up or wind-up shaft 2 of the Venetian blind. Bearings 3a and 3b secured in the housing 1 are provided for the wind-up shaft 2. A wind-up drum or roller 4 is secured to the wind-up shaft 2 between both of the bearings 3a and 3b, a lifting tape 5 being windable upon such wind-up drum 4. As best seen in FIGURES 3 to 5, the lifting tape 5 is downwardly guided over a roller 6, through a slot 6a in the floor of the bearing housing 1 as well as through appropriate openings (not shown) of the slats 7. Such lifting tape 5 is secured in any appropriate non-illustrated manner to the lowermost slat of the shutter or blind assembly.

Furthermore, between both of the bearings 3a and 3b and arranged for frictional contact upon the wind-up shaft 2, yet however, mounted for rotational movement, is a swivel fname means 8 which encircles the wind-up drum 4 at a radial spacing over more than half of its circumference. Carrier tapes 9 are suitably fixed to the peripheral portion of the swivel frame means 8 and are directed downwardly over respective guide rollers 10 and appropriate openings provided at the flood of the bearing housing 1, then being secured to the edges of the slats 7, as generally indicated by reference numeral 9a. In order to limit the possible rocking or pivoting movement of the swivel frame means 8 with respect to the stationary hearing 312 there are provided outwardly fixed stop tabs or flaps 11 at a side portion 8a of the aforesaid swivel frame means 8 and which cooperate with apptropirate impact or stop means, generally designated by reference character 31:, provided at the relevant bearing 3b.

Additionally, a stop flap or tab 12 is provided at the inner face of the same side portion 8a of the swivel frame means 3 which, when the lifting tape is unwound, bears against stop means 13 which, for example, under spring action extends out of a hub portion 4a of the wind-up drum 4 into the rocking or swivel path of the flap 12, as best shown in FIGURE 2 and, thus, during simultaneous contact of the flap 11 at the bearing 3b prevents further rotation of the wind-up shaft 2 in the let-down or lowering direction of the blind unit. When the lifting tape 5 is wound-up the stop means 13 is held out of the swivel path of the stop flap 12 by means of an arm or lever 13a which is pressed into the interior of the drum 4 by means of the lifting tape 5.

Resilient means in the form of a spiral spring 14 is wound upon hub portion 412 of the drum 4 situated opposite the hub portion 4a. Both of the end portions 14a, 14b of the spinal spring 14, displaced with respect to one another about half of the circumference of the hub portion 4b, are radially flexed towards the outside, as best seen in FIGURES 2 to 5. Two top noses or flaps 15a 15b inwardly flexed in the axial direction are provided at the side portion 8b of the swivel frame means 8 for operable cooperation with these spring and portions 14a, 14b. A further nose or flap 15c inwardly bent in the axial direction of the swivel frame means 8 is located between the flaps 15a, 15b. Moreover, at the bearing 3a a stationary stop tab or nose 16 is inwardly bent and is likewise provided for cooperation with both of the spring end portions 14a, 14b.

The manner of operation of the heretofore described device is as follows:

Upon rotation of the wind-up shaft 2 in a direction for lowering the blind or shutter (direction of arrow a in FIGURE 3) the swivel frame means 8 is also entrained by friction in the same rotational sense until the nose or flap 11 leading in the direction of rotation comes to bear against the associated bearing impact or stop surfaces. On the other hand, the wind-up drum 2 can be further rotated by overcoming the frictional contact with the swivel frame means 8. The spring 14 seated upon the hub portion 4b is rotatably entrained during rotation of the Wind-up shaft 2 and thus abuts against the bearing stop means 16 by means of its spring end portion 14b which leads in the direction of rotation. As best ascertained by reference to FIGURE 3, the winding sense of the spring 14 is selected such that with impact of the spring end portion 14b at the stationary stop means 16 during rotation of the wind-up shaft 2 a force is exerted upon the aforesaid end portion 14b tending to open the spring coils. The nose 15c prevents the spring from excessively opening up.

The drum hub 4b serving as a seat for the spring 14 as well as the wind-up shaft 2 can thus be further rotated in the direction of arrow a in spite of the spring 14 coming to rest. Upon reaching the lower terminal position of the blind the liftin g tape 5 is wound-off the drum 4 so that a non-illustrated spring presses the \arm 133a out of the interior of the drum 4 to thereby place the stop means 13 in the operating zone of the stop means 12. When such stop means 13 bears against the stop means 12 of the swivel frame means 8 a further [rotation of the wind-up drum 2 is impossible since the swivel frame means 8 carrying the aforesaid stop means 12, in turn, is prevented from rotating in the direction of the arrow a by the mentioned stop fiap 11 which bears against the bearing stop surface. Consequently, a winding-up of the tension tape 5 in the incorrect winding sense is also impossible.

On the other hand, if the wind-up shaft 2 is rotated back (direction of arrow b of FIGURE 5), then it initial- 13/ entuains the swivel frame means 8 by virtue of the frictional contact and the slats 7 are pivoted. In FIGURE 4 the swivel frame means 8 and the slats 7 are illustrated in their central or middle adjusted position. Since, the swivel frame means 8 as well as also the spring 14 folow the wind-up shaft 2 during adjustment of the slats 3 .4 the spring 14 remains unaffected during such blind actuation and without exerting its own action. If the slats 7 and swivel frame means 8 respectively, have reached their other end position (FIGURE 5), then the stop means 11 of the swivel frame means 8 which leads in the direction of rotation 15 bears against the associated bearing stop surface and thereby arrests the swivel frame means 8 against further rotation. A further rotation of the windup shaft 2 in the direction of the arrow b results in winding-up of the tension tape 5 upon the wind-up drum 4. In so doing, the arm 13a is pressed into the interior of the drum 4 and the stop means 13 is moved out of the operating zone of the stop means 12 of the swivel frame means 8. Since at the same time the spring end portion 14a leading in the direction of the arrow b abuts against the stationary stop means 16 a pres-sure is exerted upon such spring end portion 14a acting to open the spring coils of the spring 14, so that the wind-up shaft 2 can be further rotated for raising the blind without obstruction by the spring 14 now secured against rotation therewith.

If, in the illustrated rocked position of the swivel frame means 8 depicted in FIGURE 4, a torque in the direction of the arrow c is exerted upon the swivel frame means 8 through the agency of the carrier band 9, than the stop nose or flap 15b of the swivel frame means 8 presses against the spring end portion 14b and thereby closes the spring coils about the hub portion 4b. As a result, the swivel frame means 8 is coupled with the drum 4 and the wind-up shaft 2 respectively, through the agency of the spring means 14, and since such wind-up shaft 2 posseses a self-locking drive a rocking or displacement of the swivel frame means 8 in the direction of the arrow 0 and a displacement of the slats 7 due to tension exerted upon the carrier band 9 is impossible. When the blinds are partly or completely lowered, a torque exerted through the *bands 9 upon the swivel frame 8 thus cannot cause the latter to pivot or the blinds to move.

Should the tension or pulling force at the carrier band 9 occur in the sense of rotating the swivel frame means 8 in a direction opposite the direction of the arrow c then the stop flap 15a of the swivel frame means 8 presses against the spring end portion 14a and thereby likewise closes the spring coils about the hub portion 411, so that also, in this instance, the swivel frame means 8 is coupled with the drum 4 and the wind-up shaft 2 respectively, via the spring means 14 and is thereby prevented from rocking. As should be recognizable this arresting of the swivel frame means 8 by means of the spring 14 is operative in every optional swivel position of the swivel frame means since the stop flaps 15a and 15b are always located in close vicinity to the associated spring end portions 14a and 1411 respectively, so that they can immediately become effective.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Venetian-type blind comprising a plurality of slats provided with openings for a lifting tape; a drivable windup shaft; a wind-up drum rigidly supported by said shaft and including a hub; a lifting tape engageable with the lowermost one of said slats extending upward through said openings and windable upon said drum; swivel frame means seated for frictional contact upon said shaft through the agency of said drum; carrier means engaging said slats and operably connected with said swivel frame means; stop means for arresting said swivel frame means in its terminal position during further rotation of the shaft; a locking mechanism for locking the swivel frame means to the shaft, comprising a spiral spring wound upon said hub and having a pair of angularly spaced ends; stationary stop means for engaging one or the other of said pair of ends, during said further rotation, in a direction causing said spring to open up around the hub to permit turning thereof while the spring is held at rest; and two angularly spaced further stop means, rigid with said swivel frame means and'pivoting therewith, and located adjacent respjective ones of said pair of ends, for bearing on the respective end in a direction causing said spring to tighten and lock about the hub, when the swivel frame means is pivoted independently of the shaft, whereby the swivel frame means is locked to the shaft.

'2. Venetian-type blind as defined in claim 1 wherein said swivel frame means includes a side portion, said spring end portions being bent radially with respect to said hub portion, said two spaced stop means comprising flap means bent inwardly out of said side portion of said swivel frame means and in the axial direction with respect to said side portion, a housing, bearing means arranged in said housing, said stationary stop means comprising a flap member bent in the axial direction out of said bearing means.

3. Venetian-type. blind as defined in claim 2 including further flap means bent out of said side portion of said swivel frame means inwardly in the axial direction and extending over the spring windings of said spiral spring in order to prevent a too pronounced opening of the aforesaid spring windings, said further flap means being disposed between said two spaced stop means of said swivel frame means.

4. Venetian-type blind as defined in claim 3 further including a stop flap, stop means displaceable into and out of said hub portion cooperating with said stop flap for preventing further lowering of said Venetian-type blind.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,604,939 7/1952 Griesser 171 2,758,644 8/ 1956 Virlouret 160170 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

P. M. CAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. VENETIAN-TYPE BLIND COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SLATS PROVIDED WITH OPENINGS FOR A LIFTING TAPE; A DRIVABLE WIND UP SHAFT; A WIND-UP DRUM RIGIDLY SUPPORTED BY SAID SHAFT AND INCLUDING A HUB; A LIFTING TAPE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LOWERMOST ONE OF SAID SLATS EXTENDING UPWARD THROUGH SAID OPENINGS, AND WINDABLE UPON SAID DRUM; SWIVEL FRAME MEANS SEATED FOR FRICTIONAL CONTACT UPON SAID SHAFT THROUGH THE AGENCY OF SAID DRUM; CARRIER MEANS ENGAGING SAID SLATS AND OPERABLY CONNECTED WITH SAID SEIVEL FRAME MEANS; STOP MEANS FOR ARRESTING SAID SEIVEL FRAME MEANS IN ITS TERMINAL POSITION DURING FURTHER ROTATION OF THE SHAFT; A LOCKING MECHANISM FOR LOCKING THE SWIVEL FRAME MEANS TO THE SHAFT, COMPRISING A SPIRAL SPRING WOUND UPON SAID HUB AND HAVING A PAIR OF ANGULARLY SPACED ENDS; STATIONARY STOP MEANS FOR ENGAGING ONE OR THE OTHER OF SAID PAIR OF ENDS, DURING SAID FURTHER ROTATION, IN A DIRECTION CAUSING SAID SPRING TO OPEN UP AROUND THE HUB TO PERMIT TURNING THEREOF WHILE THE SPRING IS HELD AT REST; AND TWO ANGULARLY SPACED FURTHER STOIP MEANS, RIGID WITH SAID SWIVEL FRAME MEANS AND PIVOTING THEREWITH, AND LOCATED ADJACENT RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID PAIR OF ENDS, FOR BEARING ON THE RESPECTIVE END IN A DIRECTION CAUSING SAID SPRING TO TIGHTEN AND LOCK ABOUT THE HUB, WHEN THE SWIVEL FRAME MEANS IS PIVOTED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE SHAFT, WHEREBY THE SEIVEL FRAME MEANS IS LOCKED TO THE SHAFT. 